Hand bag



E. ELIAS HAND BAG May 3, 1927.

Filed Nov. 8, 19

I a I I a I I I I I l l I l I I I I I I l I I I I I I I l I I l l I I Q I I mvEmoR ATTORNEY WITNESSES Patented May 3, 1927.

UNITED STATES;

. EDWARD ELIAS, OF BROOKLYN, YORK.

HAND BAG.

Application 110d November 8, 1028. Serial No. 147,068.

The present invention is capable in its broader aspects of a wide range of utility, but finds its preferred embodiment in a ladys hand bag of the envelope type.

The so-called envelope bags usually include a single lengthof material providing a front section,.back' section and flap, the lateral edges of the front and back section being connected by gussets. A common dis 1o advantage of this type of bag is the fact i that there is always a small amount of space left between the top of the gussets and the flap when the flap is folded over and buttoned, consequently small articles such as" change or keys may be readily lost from the bag if the latter is inadvertently inverted or carelessly handled.

A primary ob'ect of the present invention is to overcome t is difliculty and provide an envelope be so constructed that there is no danger of losing the contents of the bag no matter how the bag is carried or how carelessly it is handled, providing the flap is retained in closed sition.

Preferably this ob ect is accomplished by the use of a novel type of gusset, the upper ortion of which is extended to fill the space between the upper edge of the pocket and the flap. Preferably also, means is provided for causin the folding of the gusset, or rather the folding of the upper portlon vthereof in a peculiar manner which will assure the proper positioning of the extended up er edge of the gusset at all times.

ther objects of the invention are to provide a hand ha of the general character above noted Whic will be of sim le ractical construction, rugged durable an e cient in use, neat and attractive in appearance, and

well suited to the requirements of economical manufacture.

With the above noted and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of arts, as will be more full hereinafter set orth and pointed out in t e claims. The invention may be more fully understood from the following description in connection with the accompanyinggirawings, wherein ig. 1 is a view in front elevation of a hand bag embod ing the present lIlVflIltlOIl, with one side 0 the flap broken away. for the sake of clearness.

Fig. 2 is an edge view of Fig. 1.

, ends of the lie Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional detail on the line 3-3 of Fi 1.

Fig.4 is a plan view of the gusset with the dotted lines indicating the position of a reinforcing member which may be used.

Fig. 5 is a view similar toFig. 3, but showing the device with the reinforcing member in place.

Fi 6 is a plan view of the reinforcing mem er. Thehan'd bag illustrated is of the envelope type, including a front section 10, rear.sec-

t on 11 and cover flap 12 forming a continuation of the upper end of the rear section 11 and adapted to be folded over the face of the front section 10 and secured thereto as "by a fastener 13. In accordance with the conventional practice, the front section, rear section and flap, may if desired be formed of a single sheet of material. To permit the relative expansion and contraction of the pocket 14 defined by the frontand rear section of the bag, and to'close the ends of said pocket, there are provided gussets 1,6 having their lateral edges sewed as at 17 to the lateral edges of the front and rear sections 10 and 11. The lower ends of these gussets normally fold inwardly along a median folding line indicated at 18 and their upper ends fold inwardly along diverging fold lines indicated at 19. Thus, the main portion of the gusset folds inwardly and a small V-shaped section at its top foldsoutwardly along a median line 28 coincident with the lower folding line 18. If the gusset is properly designed with the relatively narrow lower end illustrated, and the relatively wide upper end. this foldin will be the natural folding of the gusset and need not occur along sharp ly defined lines.

The upper edge of the gusset instead of running approximately straight across as is customary in the art, inclines upwardly as at 22 from opposite ends thereof. and at its intermediate portion is formed with an arcuate upwardly extending edge 20 defining a flap or tongue 21 disposed above the upper edge of the front section 10 of the bag and closing the space between said edge and the flap when the flap is closed as indicated in Fig. 1, whereby to revent the passage of small articles through the spaces under the when the bag is invertedor carelessly han led.

In order to insure absolutely accurate folding of the gussets, so that the tongue 21 .the upper edge of the gusset. Slots 26 intersecting the upper edge of the member 25 at the junction of the shoulders 22 and the ends of-the curved edge 20, converge downwardly alongthe lines of the proposedfolds 19, and the reinforcing member is also provided with a central fold line 28 upon which the central section between the slots 26 is adapted to break outwardly.

The distance to which thereinforcing member will extend downwardly from the top of the gusset, is determined of course by the proportions of the latter, but in any event, the reinforcement will terminate approximately at the upper end of the line 18 upon which the lower portion of the gusset folds inwardly.

This reinforcing member is secured in proper position between the gusset and the bag lining 30 referably by the lines of stitching 17. The slots 26 and the fold line 28 definenatural folding lines which guide the folding of the gusset, and insure the I proper positioning of the tongue 21 every forth time the bag is collapsed and closed. Any tendency of the ssets to fold'alongv other lines, is resisted the relatively stiff cardboard at both sides of the slots 26 and between the slots.

Obviously, various changes and alterations might be made in the general form and arrangement of parts described without departing from the invention. Hence I do not wish to limit myself to the details set but shall consider myself at liberty to ma ke such changes and alterations as fairly fall within-the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An envelope hand bag including a front section and a rear section connected at their lower edges, gussets connecting'the lateral edges of said sections and cooperating .therewith to form a pocket, a flap attache to e. upper edge of the rear section and adapted to be folded over the face of, and secured to the front section, the upper ends of said gussets being extended to block the passage of small articles from the upper corners of the pocket under the fla said extended upper end of the gusset fol ing inwardly along diverging fold lines and outwardly on a central fold line.

2. An envelope hand bag includin a front section and a rear section connected at their lower edges, gussets connecting the lateral edges of said sections and cooperating therewith to form a pocket, a flap attached to the upper edge of the rear section and adapted to be folded over the face of, and secured to the front section, the upper ends of said gussets being extended to block the passage of small articles from the upper corners of the pocket under the flap, the intermediate portion of the upper edges of the gussets curving symmetrically upwardly from each side to define a central blocking tongue.

3. An envelope hand bag including a front section and a rear section connected at their lower edges, gussets connecting the lateral edges of said sections and cooperating therewith to form a pocket, a flap attached to .the upper edge of the rear section and adapted to be folded over the face of, and secured to the front section, the up r ends of said gussets being extended to b ock the passage of small articles from the upper corners of the pocket under the flap, the lower portions of the gussets folding inwardly on a central line, and the upper portions of the gussets folding inwardly on a pair of diverging lines.

4. An envelope hand bag including a front section and a rear section connected at their lower edges, gussets connecting the lateral edges of said sections and cooperating therewith to form a ocket, a flap attached to the up er edge of the rear section and adapted to be folded over the face of, and secured to the front section the upper ends of said gussets being extended to block the passage of small articles from the upper corners of the pocket under the flap, the lower portions of the gussets folding inwardly on a central line, and the up er portions of the gussets folding inwar ly on a pair of diverging lines, a relatively stifi' reinforcing member secured to the gussets and slotted to direct the folding of the upper portions of the lines.

5. A be as described in claim 4%, and wherein t e reinforcin members are of cardboard and conceale between the inner lfaces of the gussets and the lining of the 6. In a foldable container including'a gusset, means for directing and determining the lines along which the gusset folds, comprising a relatively stiff reinforcing member laid against the gusset and havlng slots therein on which the member breaks or folds as the gusset is collapsed.

7. A. hand-bag substantially as described havin a front section and a rear section connccte 'at their lower edges, a flap attached to the upper edge of the rear section and gussets along the desired llll adapted to be folded over the face of and he ends of the ussets and formed on diverging 10 secured to the front section, and gussets conlines from their lower to their upper ends, necting the lateral edges of the front and with the upper ends of the folds extended rear sections and said gussets having at their above the upper edges of the front andrear upper ends or. ends corresponding to the sections in such manner that the gussets' open mouth of the bag, folds arranged midunderlie and bear against the flap 'when the 15 way between the front and rear edges of latter is in closed position, as and for the the gussets, s'aid folds extending from a purposes set forth. point mid-way between the upper and lower .EDWARD ELIAS; 

